The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-01

Did you notice." said Iris, that night, as
we sat in Prim's room combing out our hair
aud talking, ''how strange mamma was at
dinner to-dayl Not bit like herself; al
most tlmld and trembling"
That's because she knew that she is to
lose Prim presently to Mr.. Poindexter and
be thrown back on cold comfort, on her
hegan and Goneril, on you and me, Iris"
said l.
We'll, there's no denying 1t, Prim, he's
an excellent match,' exclaimed Iris, as she
had done hundred times before. And we
went on extolling Mr.. Poindexter and his
advantages and disparaging mamma, till
Prim had said: ''Why, Iris, shouldn't
think you were fond of mamma at all !" and
Iris had answered: ''Foud Of heri I'm as
fond as most girls are OF their mothers.
Bus mamma is $3.50 exasperating 81 =
young" And it was a moment afterward
that mamma opened the door OF the room
and came in.
She had been with Mrs. Freeman to the
opera, which was having late second sea-
son, and Mrs. Freeman had brought her
home. Somebody had come home with her
it was as much as an hour ago-but we
had been so busy talking we did not notice
the time fly, although we remembered now
that the hall door had closed only few
moments since. But it was too late at this
hour to regret that we had not sat up for
mamma
Well, certainly, there's no question about
it, mamma was beautiful as she stood there
with the light streaming over her. She
was in dinner dress, her whitA China Grape
clinging and soft, and her pearls, and the
pearls were clasped at the throat over the
square-cut lace below by turquoise clasp
that made her eyes shine bluer than ever; !;
her hair was Just little disordered, one
long black tress of it falling; her color was
deep and vivid as a rose-she who orlinari-
ly had so little; and her sInile-an angel
who had just found and entered Heaven
may have such a smile. / really thought
that as distinct creation, as a work of
art, as model for portrait, as pictured
impersOnation of summer, for instance, as
as any thing but your mother, you know,
she was deliciously lovely.
MY dear girls" she said, moving for
ward in that way she had, which was ex-
actly the manner reigning princess might
have who did not choose to be all the time
dragging round her ermine and crown-a
graciousness that limited of heights, you
understand-'l have something pleasant
to tell you, and 1 will not sleep before you
know it. think, indeed, you have a right
to know it.''
81 should rather think we have, indeed"
thought l.
''Mr. Poindexter," she went on, ''did me
did US ala great service to-day"
Here it comesr' thought again. "Prim
for certain!''
"And-and it was not easy to refuse him
any thing, if had wished to do so. And
he has asked me-
80, mammal we all cried, breathlessly
''He has asked me-to be his wife, and
have promised to marry him in May"
80, mammar cried Prim again, spring
ing up and throwing her arms about her, II
am so glad! 1t is what suspected, what l
hoped, but 1 never SAID word. l am so
gladl'
But as for Iris and me, we just looked at
each other.
And now 1 ask you, as did in the be-
ginning, did you ever know of any thing
more provoking, more mortifying, more
exasperatingl Ones own other!-Rarrist
Prescott Spoford, in Harper's BazGr.